Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Shatter, by Nikki Trionfo
2017, 249p, YA Mystery/Suspense
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way

It never occurred to us that there could be people in the orchard. Dangerous people.

When a mysterious explosion kills her sister, Salem becomes convinced the death was no accident—it was a conspiracy. But no one else at her high school believes her, and all she has so far are theories and clues. With Carrie’s killers still out there, Salem’s not sure who she can trust. If she can’t prove she’s right before it’s too late, the conspiracy might take another life—hers.

“Straddling the line between a coming of age heartbreak, and a thriller murder mystery—Trionfo crafts a stunning debut novel that’ll keep you turning pages till the end.”
Jolene Perry, author of All the Forever Things

“Trionfo dazzles the reader with pitch-perfect characterization and a gripping portrayal of impending doom.”
Kathleen Dougherty, author of Moth to the Flame

Salem's sister, Carrie, dies in an explosion and Salem is the only one that doesn't believe it was an accident. As she adjusts to life without her sister, she starts questioning who and what her sister was involved with towards the end of her life so she can find some answers.I loved how the mystery unfolded in this book! There were flashbacks to fill in the gaps of what was happening in the present. There were quite a few characters but they were introduced in a way that made it easy to remember who they were. There were plenty of suspects and I wasn't able to figure out the killer until the reveal. There is some romance but the story mostly focused on Salem and her determination to find out what happened to Carrie.This was a great blend of mystery and suspense! There were gang members that made me nervous and others that I wanted to like and hoped they would turn out okay. There was quite a bit going on and I liked how it all came together in the end. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys YA mystery/suspense!

ExcerptThe class is dead silent. Mr. White’s lips tighten. He swallows. There’s something dangerous about the new guy. The teacher leans over AddyDay’s desk and spins her packet so he can read the list of partnerships. “Fine. We’ll break up the threesome. You’ll pair with . . . Salem Jefferson.”At the sound of my name, I turn to look at my new partner.The guy near the door is tall. He has the kind of incredible good looks that invite stares, but that’s not the only reason he’s getting them now. The cursive lettering of a tattoo rises from the opening of the guy’s worn flannel shirt. Two gold chains hang from his brown neck. A guy accessorized in gang paraphernalia, not caked with it. His only completely visible marking is an upside down V inked onto his right cheekbone, black and distinct. The tattoo calls my attention for some reason, even though I’m sure I’ve never seen a symbol like that before. An upside down V . . . it seems so familiar.His expressionless, dark eyes dart to meet my gaze from under a stiff, backward-facing ball cap. My classmates watch him stare at me. “Salem Jefferson,” he says slowly, putting a slight emphasis on my last name. He waits for my response. I realize he knows exactly who Salem Jefferson is. Exactly who I am. I’m Carrie’s sister.Terrified, I whirl back around to face forward. Gang members targeted Carrie, made her frightened. Was he one of them? The skin between my shoulder blades tightens. Why were gang guys after Carrie?

A committed party-girl, Nikki serves as the social coordinator of LDStorymakers Conference and chair of Storymakers Tribe. Other notable stuff includes an honorable mention in Writers of the Future and a spot in Utah Horror Writer's shorty-story anthology. This all sounds really serious, but if you run into her, she gets down. Truly.